*** Chapter 3. The rest of the "family" arrives. This chapter is told by Addie Randle and Leah Curtis' POV. ***

As everyone came inside I slipped passed them to go back outside. Leah was sitting on the steps looking out on the expanse of land that Uncle Pony owned. Leah was real quiet and it started to unnerve me.

"Leah, you ok?" I asked sitting down beside me.

She looked over at me, shrugging she went back to starring. I was really curious now what was bugging, but I was too nervous to ask her.

"Addie, I'm tired of being the youngest." She said.

"What do ya mean?" I asked looking over at her.

"You know Addie. I mean you have three older brothers. Don't you ever feel left out?" She asked

Before I could answer a car horn was heard at the end of the driveway. We both stood up to see who was coming.

"Uncle Two-Bit, Uncle Johnny!" We squealed in unison as we ran out to meet them.

"Leah, Addie is that really you?" Uncle Two-Bit asked, picking us up in a hug. "How are you gals?"

"Good Uncle Two-Bit. How are you?" Leah asked.

"I'm just fine, baby" He responded.

Uncle Johnny, Aunt Tanya and Aunt Cathy came up behind him. They smiled as they greeted us.

"Come on kids come inside." Aunt Cathy called her and Aunt Tanya's kids from the car.

Jesse, Ellie, Keith, and Amy climbed out of the car. Saying a brief hello they passed us to go into the house.

"See ya inside girls." Uncle Johnny said as he led the way into the house.

No sooner did we sit down we spotted another car pulled up in the driveway. Uncle Dally and Aunt Kyla climbed out of the car with their kids DJ, Marie, and Tommy.

"Hey there girls! Are you the welcoming committee?" He asked pulling the two of us into a hug.

"Uncle Dally, you're the last to arrive." Leah stated, giving Aunt Kyla a hug.

"Thanks baby." Uncle Dally said patting her head before heading into the house with his family.

"Do ya wanna go for a horseback ride?" Leah asked turning to me

"Sure let's go." I said following Leah to the stable.

Inside the stables we brushed and saddled two horses. Mounting we led the horses onto the forest path. Leah road out in front, but reigned in so I could catch up.

"So Addie how are your brothers treatin' ya?" She asked glancing over at me.

"Fine, I guess. How's Matt treatin' ya?" I asked.

"Fine, I just wish our other cousins would let us in on stuff, ya know?" She replied shifting in her saddle.

"Ya, I know." I said trotting beside her.

We rode for seemed like forever. Up ahead Leah stopped and dismounted. She crouched beside the path and traced something on the ground.

"What is it Leah?" I asked as I reined in the horse.

"We should keep moving. There's a wolf pack nearby." She stated as she slowly stood looking around her.

Quickly she mounted and kicked her mount into a trot. I did the same and followed Leah down the path. All of the sudden my horse reared almost throwing me. Calming the horse I could hear growling coming from the forest around us.

"Leah!" I screamed

She turned in her saddle as she turned the horse around. Galloping towards me she grabbed my reins and pulled the horse behind her.

"Addie, hold on." Leah cried as she coaxed the horses to continue onward.

*** Leah's POV. ***

Glancing behind me I caught sight of two wolves flanking us. Urging the horses on I let my eyes wander to the forest on either side of the trail. I spotted other wolves following us closely in the forest. That's when it happened. One of the wolves led the attack. Jumping out of the brush the wolf latched onto my ankle with it's jaws. I heard Addie scream. I looked back to find that another wolf had tackled her of the horse and to the ground. Punching the wolf on my ankle it let go whimpering. I dismounted quickly I ignored the pain. I picked up a branch and swung at the wolf on Addie.

"Get off 'er." I screamed at it as the branch connected with the wolf's side.

The wolf growled, but backed off. The rest of the wolves backed away as well. Watching them retreat I slowly crouched beside Addie. Taking a quick look at Addie's wounds and my own, I began looking around for a safe place to hide.

"Leah it hurts." Addie whimpered as I helped her to her feet.

"Great, just great. The horses ran off." I said looking around for the horses.

"What's goin' to happen to us Leah?" Addie whispered.

"We're goin' to be ok Addie." I replied finding a shallow cave in the distance.

I helped Addie inside before I went in search for wood. Finding what I needed I made a lean to so that the wolves wouldn't be able to get at us. Making a small fire went to find water to cleanse our wounds. Carefully putting the warmed piece of cloth on Addie's side, I pulled her back so that we were leaning on the cave wall.

"Don't worry Addie; we'll get out of this ok." I whispered to her as she drifted off to sleep.

Boy I hope so. I thought as I watched the sky grow dark. I sure hope so.